Gov. Brewer On Her Tarmac Encounter with President Obama

On January 25th of this year President Obama showed just how unpresidential he is with the confrontation of Governor Jan Brewer (R-AZ). She had every intention to hand him a letter suggesting they meet to discuss Arizona and to welcome him to her state. American Thinker interviewed the Governor about the incident.

The Governor waited on the tarmac as the President approached. Shortly into the conversation, instead of warm wishes, the President brought up her quote about him in her book, Scorpions For Breakfast. She stated in the book,

"But after a few minutes the president's tone got serious -- and condescending. He proceeded to lecture me about everything he was doing to promote 'comprehensive immigration reform'...he didn't mention the violence on the border, the drug cartels, or the enormous costs being borne by the citizens of states like Arizona...It wasn't long before I realized I was hearing the president's stump speech...His mind seemed made up...He was patronizing...He thinks he can humor me and then get rid of me. I listened to about ten minutes of this. Finally, the president's lecture ended and it was my turn...But now I was ready to give him a piece of my mind..."

The Governor told American Thinker that she was disappointed that she could not tell the President what she had intended, that "Arizona rose in job growth from 47th to the top ten, and balanced the budget. I wanted to explain how we did this by putting a moratorium on rules and regulations to turn the state around. I was hoping to tell him I was grateful he came to see us. Unfortunately, I did not get to talk with him about any of that. He turned immediately to my book and told me he didn't like the way he was portrayed in it. It unnerved me to say the least. It is my book and my opinion and I have not been challenged on any of the data," including by the President who had over two months to comment on it since its release date.

Because there are those in his administration who criticize without even reading the document, American Thinker wondered if the Governor asked the President, had he read her book? The answer she received from him was "I read excerpts." Governor Brewer continued, "The book is about border security. He has not come to the border with me and frankly he appeared more concerned with talking about what I said about him in the book and how he was offended. Its all about him, not our national security."

Of course some in the media as well as the President are trying to spin it that the Governor was the disrespectful one since she pointed her finger at him. She described herself as being "animated and I speak with my hands. I was not disrespectful, he was. He walked away from me in mid-sentence. I felt brushed aside."

She was obviously not disrespectful when in the hand-written letter of January 25th, given to the President, she wrote "respectfully," and in her book she states, "I hadn't interrupted the president because I respect the office, and I was determined to show respect." She commented directly that, "I would always be respectful to the office of the President of the US."

She should not be concerned about the criticism since it appears that there is a pattern here. As reported in the Washington Post: President Obama snapped at Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) during a debt-ceiling discussion and abruptly walked out; and Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA) noted that he felt accosted by the President regarding a letter he had sent. He was quoted, "President Obama had personalized this and he was upset. There was not a word about the oil spill. He was concerned about looking bad because of the letter."

On Friday, January 27th President Obama on Diane Sawyer's ABC interview, commented about the incident, "Its always good publicity for a Republican to get in an argument with me." Actually, Mr. President you have it wrong: it's you that likes to get into arguments with Republicans, not so much for the publicity but because you are petty, thin-skinned, and way too sensitive about criticism. Governor Brewer summarized it best, "The President's feelings were hurt because of what I said in my book. Instead, he should be thinking about the economy, about jobs, and about border security." Maybe instead of reading excerpts the President should take the time to read all of her book, Scorpions For Breakfast.

On January 25th of this year President Obama showed just how unpresidential he is with the confrontation of Governor Jan Brewer (R-AZ). She had every intention to hand him a letter suggesting they meet to discuss Arizona and to welcome him to her state. American Thinker interviewed the Governor about the incident.

The Governor waited on the tarmac as the President approached. Shortly into the conversation, instead of warm wishes, the President brought up her quote about him in her book, Scorpions For Breakfast. She stated in the book,

"But after a few minutes the president's tone got serious -- and condescending. He proceeded to lecture me about everything he was doing to promote 'comprehensive immigration reform'...he didn't mention the violence on the border, the drug cartels, or the enormous costs being borne by the citizens of states like Arizona...It wasn't long before I realized I was hearing the president's stump speech...His mind seemed made up...He was patronizing...He thinks he can humor me and then get rid of me. I listened to about ten minutes of this. Finally, the president's lecture ended and it was my turn...But now I was ready to give him a piece of my mind..."

The Governor told American Thinker that she was disappointed that she could not tell the President what she had intended, that "Arizona rose in job growth from 47th to the top ten, and balanced the budget. I wanted to explain how we did this by putting a moratorium on rules and regulations to turn the state around. I was hoping to tell him I was grateful he came to see us. Unfortunately, I did not get to talk with him about any of that. He turned immediately to my book and told me he didn't like the way he was portrayed in it. It unnerved me to say the least. It is my book and my opinion and I have not been challenged on any of the data," including by the President who had over two months to comment on it since its release date.

Because there are those in his administration who criticize without even reading the document, American Thinker wondered if the Governor asked the President, had he read her book? The answer she received from him was "I read excerpts." Governor Brewer continued, "The book is about border security. He has not come to the border with me and frankly he appeared more concerned with talking about what I said about him in the book and how he was offended. Its all about him, not our national security."

Of course some in the media as well as the President are trying to spin it that the Governor was the disrespectful one since she pointed her finger at him. She described herself as being "animated and I speak with my hands. I was not disrespectful, he was. He walked away from me in mid-sentence. I felt brushed aside."

She was obviously not disrespectful when in the hand-written letter of January 25th, given to the President, she wrote "respectfully," and in her book she states, "I hadn't interrupted the president because I respect the office, and I was determined to show respect." She commented directly that, "I would always be respectful to the office of the President of the US."

She should not be concerned about the criticism since it appears that there is a pattern here. As reported in the Washington Post: President Obama snapped at Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) during a debt-ceiling discussion and abruptly walked out; and Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA) noted that he felt accosted by the President regarding a letter he had sent. He was quoted, "President Obama had personalized this and he was upset. There was not a word about the oil spill. He was concerned about looking bad because of the letter."

On Friday, January 27th President Obama on Diane Sawyer's ABC interview, commented about the incident, "Its always good publicity for a Republican to get in an argument with me." Actually, Mr. President you have it wrong: it's you that likes to get into arguments with Republicans, not so much for the publicity but because you are petty, thin-skinned, and way too sensitive about criticism. Governor Brewer summarized it best, "The President's feelings were hurt because of what I said in my book. Instead, he should be thinking about the economy, about jobs, and about border security." Maybe instead of reading excerpts the President should take the time to read all of her book, Scorpions For Breakfast.